Sample display device



March 3l, 1936. C, cAHN SAMPLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 10, 1935 f/ 1f E E Patented Mu. zu,l 193s L-'Ihisyinvention relates to sample display devices, andfparticularly to devicesfor displaying sampiesof cloth in such' a manner that aprospective purchaser'may be able to visualize thef L appearance of the cloth'of the samples when fabricated into garments. e

One object of. the invention is to so.display simultaneously anyy of a plurality of samples arranged in separate piles that the adaptability l of the samples for producing appropriatey and effective costume ensembles may be seen. i Another object of the invention is to provide a "'fmeans for so viewing the samples displayed that they may appear as kif actually made into gar- 5 ments, this being accomplished by superposition of a transparent member bearing a representation oi' a clothedilgurethrough which the` samples may be seen in their proper relation to the garments in which the figure, of the representation is clothed.-

A further object of the invention is to `form ,l

the viewing means in such a manenr thatv a relatively large number of samples may compose the piles of sameand that any .of the samples may be .viewed together without interference of those samples which?y are -not atv that time being used, whereby may'combinations of thevv samples are made possible. f v The'invention comprises a folder having a' back D memberandaA front member'hingedly connected atl one edge, jthe back'member b'eixig` formed to -providel "for the attachment to it -of edge-adjacentj'piles'ofsamples,l and the samples composing the, piles eapablekof 'being 'turned as pages 5121er'leaves*ofy afbook to obtain'any desired com bin'atins. The 'ffront member is' provided with' an" 'opening throughout which extends a transparentineinber:bearing vthe representation of a v figure in'outlinaand in? opaque' portions, through D- which representation the samples may be viewed 'when they front f member is superposed upon them,- c'ertain ofthe opaque portions of the representationfmasking portions, of the. underlying samples, yand one .opaque portion, in' particular,

5A overlying and spanning the adjacentl edges of the piles of,r lsamples,-thefront member being preferably: narrower than the back member, thus providing aspace to *accommodate the samples which.' are turned back fromthe piles, all as` )j will ,befexplained hereinafter `more fully and inallyclaimed. f 1

ffIn the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention@ inmthesajveralg figures of which like partsf'are"similarlydesignatedbligure l1 ris' a perspective view of the device oil the invention.

Charles Cahn, Appleman April 1o, 193s, serial Nn. 15,720

Baltimore, Md.

with the parts in folded position suitable for viewing the samples. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device unfolded or. opened out fiat, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially centrally of the folded device upon its longitudinal axis. Figfli shows a modification of the device.

The folder, which forms the foundation element of the device comprises a back member I and .a front member 2 hinged together at one edge by a relatively flexible hinge 3.

The back member I is provided at its edge opposite the hinge 3 with an articulated or foldable flap 4 between which and the back member proper are secured, by suitable fasteners 5, piles of cloth samples or swatches 6 and 1, each of\ such piles containing any number of samples as desired, as limitedl by the space between the overlying portion 8 of the flap and the back member I.

These samples or swatches may beturned in a manner similar to the leaves` or pages of a book, as indicated at a (Fig'. 1), to thus present any desired samples at the tops of thepilesl In the example illustrated in Fig. 3 eight samplesor swatches are shown in veach of Ythe piles 6 and 1', but it will be understood that, `as just stated, the number is not thus limited. Even with only eight samples inv each pile it will be apparentlthat sixty-four differenty combinations may be madeand thev combinations possible are thus equal to the square of the number of samples in a pile, solong as both piles contain the same number. Variations of the number of combinations will be obvious.

The front member 2 is preferably formed of two slmilar'parts b and c, (Fig. 3) each provided with an uninterrupted opening 9-.of a size to overlie portions ofthe piles of samples.v The part ,b is preferably -iolmedv integral with ,theA hinge 3 and lback member l to provide a smooth exterior surface, and theA part c is secured to the inner face of the part b. vBetween thertwo parts of the front member 2, and .extending throughout`the openings 9 thereof, is secured a sheet of transparent material I0, preferablyy cellophane, uponvthe back of which is printed or otherwise .suitablydelineated or applied a representation of a iigure,l partly in outline and par-ly opaque and wholly carried ,by the transparent' member. In the drawing the representation is the figure of a man wearing coat `and trousers, the design of the coat, the buttons andyother parts being applied in outline, and the creasesand folds of the trousers applied in a similar manner.

When this representation is positioned over the cloth sample piles by super-posing the front member 2 thereover, the top sample of the upper pile 6 is seen through the representation of the coat, and the top sample of the lower pile 1 is seen through the representation of the trousers.

The head, hands. shirt. handkerchief, collar and tie of the ligure are opaque, as is also the background or eld of the representation, and in order that the space between the adjacent edges of the two piles of samplesmay be obscured or masked an opaque portion is extended across the representation in such position as to overlie this space when the front member is superposed upon the piles. In the drawing, this opaque portion is the showing of a cane or walking-stick Il but representations of other articles or devices may be substituted therefor, as desired or required. These opaque portions of the gure representation being wholly carried by the transparent member obviate the need for provision of cut-outs of particular design as has been the practice heretofore, thus materially simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of the device.

'It will thus be seen that when the samples are viewed with the parts of the device arranged as illustrated in Fig. l, the coat will appear as made of one cloth and the trousers as made of another, and the space between'the two piles of samples is so effectively masked or concealed as not to be noticeable, thus giving a very life-like representation of the figure clothed in cloth patterns of desired blending or contrasting designs.

As shown, the front member 2 is of less width thanthebackmember I,'andthisprovidesa spacebetweentheedge I2 oftheiiaplandthe adlacentedge lofthefrontmember Itoaccommodate the samples which have been turned back as at a, thus permitting the front member tobepressedintochsecontact withthetopor exposed samples of the piles. This close contact isfurtheredbytheiiexililityofthehingel whichmay,inei!ect,oollapseaspremireisap plied to the front member.

Although, in the embodiment of the invention shown.onlytwopileaofsamplesorswatchesare employed,itwillbeobvlousthatoneormore of suchpilesmaybeuaed,andtherepresentation appearingimontheh'ansparentmembermay sampleatobemitbeingunderatoodhowem,thatsuitablempartsofthcrepresenta tionwillbeemployedtonoroveriietheadjaoentedgesofthepiles.

In displaying samples of cloth d light colors orshadeatheeotblaekorotherdarkcolored outlineswillbeeifeetivetopreaenttherepreamtation oftheiigureuponthetransparentmember, butwhensamplesoi'darkeolorsorshadare tobedisplayedthebiaekordarkcoloxedoutiines, aapttosoblendtherewithastobeobscured, andhenoeinordertomahethedcvieemoreei'- fectivei'orviewingaamplesofbothllshtanddark colorsorabad,theblackordark1agmentedout lineamaybe,andpferablyare,mpplementedby white or light pkmmtedoutlinesparalleling the hrkplgmentedoutlineaaailhistratedbythefull lines M and dot-anll-daahv lines Il, respectively, oftherepresentationotlit 'lhus,whenthe transparentmemberiapoaitionedoverlighteolored samples the darkplmented outlines will beseemandwhenitispndtmedoverdarkeoloredsamplesthelishtplgmentedoutlines'wiil.

heleen. Itwiiibeappalmhmrthermomthat thisdouileitlinewillbeeleetiveindispiaying a light colored sample in one pile of samples and a dark colored sample in the other pile.

'I'he inner surface of the back member may bear advertising matter, instructions for, use of the device, illustrations of styles of clothing, and 5 such other printed matter as is customarily employed in the sale of clothing and other samples, as indicated in' Fig. 2. Also, suicient space is provided upon the outer surfaces of the back and front members to accommodate advertising matn ter, trade-marks, trade names and the like.

Various modications in the construction, ar-

rangement of parts and adaptation of the device are considered to be within the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the following claims. 1|

What I claim is:-

1. In a sample display device, a folder comprising a back member and a front member connected at -one edge by a hinge, a ilap on said back member at another edge thereof and by which 21 a plurality of samples may be secured to said back member in stacked relation, said samples capable of independent manipulation as the pages of a book and adapted to be turned back over saidsecm'ingap'sothatanyofthesamplesmay 24 appear uppermost for display, said front member provided with an opening large enough to expose the uppermost sample, a transparent sheet secured to said front member and extending throughout said opening, and a representation a sampleswhenthesamearetm'nedbackover sad'ap.

2.Inasampledisplaydevice,afoldercom prisingabackmember andafront member connectedatone edgebyahinge,ailaponsaid `back-meuiberatitsedge oppositesaidhingeandbywhichapluralityotsamplesmaybesecured tosaidbackmemberinstackedrelatiomsaid samples capable of independent manipulation as thepagesofabookandadaptedtobeturned backoversaidsecuringfiapsothatanyofthe" samplesmayappearnppermostfordispla!.said iront memberprovided with an opening large enmghtoexpetheuppermostsample,atrans parent sheet securedtosaidfront member and extendingthroughoutsaidopeninandtherep I resentationoi'asllredelineateduponsaidtranaparent sheet, said a view oftheuppermostsample inenhlnation said iigure representation memberissimerposedwithrespectthereto. said frontmemberbeingdlesswidththansaidback member and .when thus superposer! providing a space.betweenitsfreeedgeandtheedgeofaaid securlngiiap.saidspacebeingsumcienttoac| eommdate the thicknes of the samples when thesameareturnedbackoversaidtiap,said hingebeingnexibletopermitaaidfrontmenber when'sosimerpedtobedepressedintointimate relaifontotheuppennostsamplebeingviewed. 7|

3.Inasampledisplaydevice.afoldercom prisingabackmemberandafrontmemberconnectedatoneedaebyahingeaiiap back member at another edge thereof whiehapluralityofaamplesmas'besecmed when the front.l

said back member in two separate piles in edgeadjacent relation, said samples capable of inde` pendent manipulation as the pages of .a book and adapted to be turned back away from their piles over said securing ilap so that any of the samples of,` the two upon saidpiles for simultaneous display, said front member provided with an opening large enough to`expose the samples oi the two piles simultaneously, a transparent sheet secured to said iront member and extending throughout said opening, and the representation of a figure delineated upon said transparent sheet and comprising transparent and opaque portions, portions of said representation permitting a view of the samples uppermost upon the two piles thereof when the front member is superposedl with respect to said piles, said iront lmember being smaller in one direction than said back member and when thus superposed providing a space between its edge and the adjacent edge of said securing flap, said space being suiilcient to `ac-y piles may appear uppermost commodate the thickness of the samples when the same are turned back over said iiap.

4. In a sample display device, a transparent lmember adapted to be positioned over the sample to be displayed, said transparent member bearing in outline the representation of a figure in combination with which the sample may be viewed. said outline including dark pigmented and light pigmented lines providing for effective contrast of the representation with samples of light and dark colors or shades respectively.

5. In a sample display device, atransparent member adapted to be positioned over the sample to be displayed, said transparent member bearing 'in outline the representation of a figure in combination with which the sample may be viewed, said outline including dark pigmented and light pigmented lines arranged in substantial parallelism and providing for effective contrast of the representation with samples of light and dark colors or shades respectively. CHARLES CAHN. 

